NEW YORK — Dismissing any NBA trade rumors — especially as we near closer to the newly assigned Feb. 8 trade deadline — removes the little excitement there is during the tedious days of the season's midway point. And while very few whispers and speculated transactions actually come to fruition, the trading game in itself carries the NBA through the dog days.

Title-contending franchises usually stand pat. The lower-tier franchises often look for ways to acquire rising talent, or take on expiring salaries to be available for some of free agency's most coveted players or become a trade partner. Then there are the middle-of-the-road teams — ones that either can take a gamble to potentially bolster a roster, possibly risking the future in the process, or throw in the towel and enter the sweepstakes for whatever teenager is deemed the “next best thing” in the draft.

This is where the 21-18 Detroit Pistons come into play.

On Tuesday,...

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